Roman showman

Last weekend saw the great and the good of the legal market head off to Rome for The Lawyer’s annual European In-House Summit.

Once the serious work of the seminars had been done it was time to relax at a black tie dinner where, in the face of much groaning and even some heckling, Eversheds managing partner David Gray bravely regaled the crowd with an outpouring from his finely-tuned poetic soul. Here, in full, and for your delectation, is the epic:

Cast back your mind 2000 years – to Rome, the home of learningWhere lawyers were important – their clients most discerning.Catullus Cato Cicero – great lawyers who have led us And perhaps the greatest of them all – the lawyer Evershedus

Now nota bene everyone and you’ll hear his tale de facto How he came to prominence and what made him act soWith offices throughout the empire his clients there to aidLondinium, Milano Napoli is where he plied his trade

And – tempus fugit – on to Rome – he said if here I work – I’ll Soon be hailed with bona fide as in the magic circleHe Veno Vidi Vici’d Rome and though a late starterHis clients were all better served if this was judged pro rata

Human traits he had as well – at his 40th birthday doHe drank ad nauseam they say – the evening simply flewBut suffer for that night he did his servant standing byHeard him slur “I have forgot if you are forty or I!” (afortiori)

An honest man this tale will show – with Brutus he was diningTen of the greatest minds in Rome in the atrium recliningIn the servants’ quarters – panic – only eight meals on the trayBut Evershedus the honest said “Yes, I ate two Brute”

So brave he was – he held no fear if pushed by toga’s crowdWhen attending at the forum – no quarter was allowedWith plebians shoving at his heels he’d turn and hold his hand highAnd say “I’m not for moving, yes in this locus stand I”

Proactive with his clients – he was the first to knowYou need to run the extra mile to preserve the status quoHe said ad nauseam they say “Of my effort every ounce’ll Be used to serve the pressing need of Roman in-house counsel”

In vino veritas as they say. I swear this all is trueHis legacy lives on today – and is available to youNot famous now like Cicero, Pliny, Cato, Nero But I read this in memoriam Evershedus unsung hero.